British Airways

British Airways launched its first new TV commercial for two years this month. The new campaign's concept 'Opportunity doesn't always live on your doorstep' seeks to encourage people to get out into the world and seize every opportunity, for business or pleasure.

Nearly 7,000 British Airways staff have taken an early opportunity to apply for voluntary pay cuts in support of the airline's cost reduction programme. Of the 40,000-strong workforce, 6,940 employees had volunteered for unpaid leave, part-time working or unpaid work by June 24. Their actions will save the company up to £10 million.

British Airways will launch the first ever longhaul route from London City airport in September, despite the general aviation downturn. The airline has taken the decision to press ahead with the launch and set a September 29 date for the first flights. Tickets for the twice-daily service to New York JFK are on sale now.

British Airways' new winter schedule will include additional services from Gatwick to Bermuda (from five to six a week), Barbados (from nine to ten a week) and St Lucia and Port of Spain (from three to five a week).

British Airways is taking the fight for customers to the no-frills carriers by launching a 'value calculator' on ba.com. It will allow customers to check the true cost of Ryanair and EasyJet's added charges versus the value of BA's full service.

British Airways has recorded its best ever May global punctuality performance with 87 per cent of flights departing on time. The strong performance built on a good April and busy Easter period when the airline saw more than 85 per cent of flights departing on time.

A teenage wakeboarder and Britain's number one pistol shooter have won British Airways flights to train abroad courtesy of the BA Great Britons Programme. The BA Great Britons £500,000 travel fund offers up to 180 free flights a year until 2012 to aspiring talent in fashion, sport, performing arts, innovation, community and art and design.

George Taplin (9) from Heathrow Primary School left his mark on the British Airways Community Learning Centre, as the 50,000th child to walk through its doors on June 1, 2009. His handprints and those of British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh will be displayed in the centre.

British Airways is to launch new thrice-weekly direct services from Gatwick to both Male in the Maldives and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt from October 25, 2009. This will be the first time British Airways has flown to the Maldives, but will be a return for the airline’s colours to the Red Sea resort.